The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Barbour Bows Out

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Barbour Bows Out

By W. James Antle, III on 4.25.11 @ 4:01PM

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is not running for president in 2012, saying he didn't have the certainty or all-consuming fire that a presidential bid requires. I'm genuinely surprised. Every indication I'd seen from the Barbour camp made it look like all systems were go. This marginally increases the chances of Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels getting in the race.

View all comments (20) | Leave a comment

Chris| 4.25.11 @ 4:18PM

This benefits Huckabee and, as you said, Daniels the most. I love Haley, but in a "behind the scenes" role. Out in front he would run the risk of being a disaster in 2012.

Canon| 4.25.11 @ 7:27PM

Mighty Mite Daniels and Huckleberry would be disasters, too.

Robbie| 4.25.11 @ 4:26PM

While not shocking, I find this disappointing. Through process of elimination, Barbour and Daniels appeared to me to be the only credible top tier cnadidates without significant detractors. Now, Barbour's out and Daniels is waffling.

Maybe a big name will jump in from the sidelines later this year, but the current crop of aspiring candidates resemble a freak show as far as I'm concerned. Never have I seen a national party offer so little when a president is clearly so beatable.

Mike W| 4.25.11 @ 4:36PM

Daniels needs to forget about it also. He is an open borders pro amnesty RINO and as the Director of the OMB for Bush 2, he was the Einstein who made the astonishing estimate of the Iraq war costing 50 to 60 billion.

Red Phillips| 4.25.11 @ 4:44PM

Barbour has serious issues on immigration based on some of his lobbying efforts in the past, but I did have a bit of a soft spot for him because a lot of the opposition to him was motivated by obvious anti-Southern bigotry. I wouldn't/couldn't support Barbour, but he has good enemies.

Margie| 4.25.11 @ 4:46PM

Ah well, better to bow out now, than later.

rightasrain| 4.25.11 @ 4:55PM

Barbour seems like a real gentleman but who needs a candidate who would have to be constantly fighting off KKK innuendoes by the Democrats.

Red Phillips| 4.25.11 @ 5:13PM

"who needs a candidate who would have to be constantly fighting off KKK innuendoes by the Democrats."

Rightasrain, this should be conceded to instead of resisted vigorously?

WilliamR| 4.25.11 @ 6:21PM

The media would have killed him. Governor of state that incorporates the Confederate battle flag in its state flag running against the first black President. He would spend most of the campaign explaining to idiots in the media why he isn't a secret Klansman.

Back in 2001 when Mississippi put it to the voters on the state flag Barbour was a big supporter of the flag.

I'm from the south and don't have a problem with Mississippi's flag.

rightasrain| 4.25.11 @ 7:15PM

Hey Red, if Barbour produced anything other than yawns, I would definitely say to resist any racist smear campaign vigorously, but I think Krauthammer was being very generous putting him at 7:1. Best that he's gone.

randyinrocklin| 4.25.11 @ 10:03PM

Palin/Bachmann all the way baby!!!!!!

m| 4.25.11 @ 10:32PM

It won't be Palin/Bachmann. We are not ready for a woman President right now because of the so many problem we are facing today and it have to be a man that can handle the job as the President.

Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 4.25.11 @ 10:58PM

M: Isn't it time for you to pray to Mecca again? Your Moon God is waiting for you!! Friggin' idiot!!

"Because of the so many problem(s) we are facing today and it have to be a man that can handle the job", seriously dude, you're a friggin' idiot!!

Brooke| 4.25.11 @ 11:13PM

LLL, thank God for American men like you!

Palin/West 2012!!

PCC| 4.26.11 @ 1:02AM

Gov. Barbour is just out of the hospital recovering from ailments associated with the campaign trail.

It is probably closer to the truth to say that he has dropped out because he lacks the physical fitness to run for president or, God forbid, he's got a serious illness he's not talking about.

Fisher Ames| 4.26.11 @ 5:47AM

Or maybe he’s telling the truth about his reasons.

David T| 4.26.11 @ 9:39AM

A younger, leaner, fitter Haley Barbour would have been a formidable candidate. I truly believe he had the makings of a great president. The GOP field is looking pitifully, woefully bad without him.

Richard Baker| 4.26.11 @ 10:20AM

Would have been interesting to hear him respond forcefully to his critics. That being said, he has too much of the Pillsbury Doughboy in his physique to stand the long haul towards 1600 Pennsylvania.

Chuck| 4.26.11 @ 11:05AM

Haley's out because of Trump. Trump trumps all including the founding father of Romneycare. Now the GOP is excited a Trump/Bachmann ticket would unite the Tea Party with the conservative elements of the Republican Party and demolish at all levels the opposition.